WBC Strips Cotto before Alvarez bout

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Miguel Corro was stripped of his WBC Middleweight title just days before his bug fight with Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas.

“The World Boxing Council worked tirelessly through a process that began over two years ago to secure the celebration of the highly anticipated fight between Miguel Cotto and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. The WBC is proud of that accomplishment that is giving boxing fans around the world a very important fight to see,” the WBC said in a statement. “After several weeks of communications, countless attempts and good faith time extensions trying to preserve the fight as a WBC world championship, Miguel Cotto and his promotion [Roc Nation Sports] did not agree to comply with the WBC rules and regulations, while Saul Alvarez has agreed to do so. Accordingly, the WBC must rule on the matter prior to the fight.

“The WBC hereby announces that effective immediately it has withdrawn recognition of Miguel Cotto as WBC world middleweight champion.”

The WBC also announced that if Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) wins Saturday’s fight, he will claim the vacant WBC belt. Alvarez would also displace Cotto as lineal champion. If Cotto wins he will remain lineal champion but WBC interim titleholder Gennady Golovkin will be elevated to full WBC titlist.

The WBC did not announce any details regarding what rules or regulations Cotto failed to comply with, but sources said Cotto’s title was withdrawn because he refused to pay a $300,000 sanctioning fee to the WBC.

“The WBC’s decision is premised on the fact that Miguel Cotto and his camp are not willing to abide by the governing WBC rules and regulations, and the specific conditions the WBC established to sanction the fight,” the WBC said. “Simply put: they are not willing to respect the very same rules and conditions which applied to Cotto becoming WBC champion. The WBC wishes Miguel Cotto the best of luck as we truly regret the course of action which led to them taking such decision. … The WBC wishes the promotion great success and we are satisfied that this great fight for boxing will be enjoyed by millions of fans around the world.”